Thanks Paddy

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Shelby's First Dance

Harvest Dance. I don't know who was more excited - Shelby and friends, Mandy or me. A remark that back in the "olden times," our school dances were called "Sock Hops" was the cause of much giggling! It's so much fun to see them grow.

Who is this guy?

I snatched this from Jim Mackin's Facebook page. It looks like someone we know. You can run, little brother, but you can't hide!! Ha ha.

It seems like more and more of my family has landed on Facebook. Here is a short list (doesn't include their friends or other family members):

Mandy Turner
Shelby Turner
Price Izen
Tommy Izen
Marily Love Izen
Jim Mackin
Jamie Mackin
Mary Friedrich
Jim Friedrich
Kathy Mackin (yes - Kathy Mackin)

Plus I've hooked up with some old friends from St. Anne Elementary, Mnsgr. Kelly High, Beaumont High and Lamar. Not to mention many FKM co-workers who are also there.

Speaking only for myself, I have found Facebook easier to use, post comments, upload photos and more.

Now, if we can just get Paddy, Nan, Tom and this guy to join, the whole fam damily will be in one spot. A girl can hope, right?

Love,
Marty

First Day

First Day of School (Better late than never, right?)

Jake's on top - first day of Kindergarten. Jake is below - first day of first grade. They had a great time and even wanted to go back.

No picture of Shelby -- she's a teenager after all and has become quite camera shy lately. I did manage to get my hands on some Jonas Brothers concert pictures (brave Mom takes gaggling bunch of teenage girls to concert again) - will post them soon. I'm finding it difficult to keep up with all the various technology modes these days. Spending way too much time on Facebook lately.

Love to all!

Summer Fun

Good-bye lazy, hazy crazy days of summer.

School clothes: Check
Back Packs: Check
New shoes: Check
Lunch Boxes: Check
School supplies: Check
Jitters: Check

First day of school pictures to come.

Jakey-baby, Nana's swing, Mandy's new truck and pretty in the park.

It's hard to believe we are already in July. Time for a mini-update:

Tommy Izen has found his niche in IT science. He has completed 1 of 3 certifications and just landed a new job in the IT Department at a major Healthcare facility in the Washington/Virginia area. Price has been very busy working as a freelance artist in 2 and 3D animation and website animatics. I haven't been laid-off lately, so that's good too.

Shelby graduated from elementary school, Ryan graduated from Kindergarten and Jake starts 1st grade in the fall. For the first time in many years, Mandy won't have any little ones at home during the school day. She has so many plans and ideas about what she wants to do -- I think it will take a little while for her to land on just one. It will be interesting.

All is well, we are blessed. It's been a hot summer so far - we have reached or broken 100 for the last 9 days in a row. Rain would be a good thing.

Love to all of you family of bloggers!!

The Fast Lane

Bowling lane, that is.

Birthday, bowling, friends, cake, ice cream and games galore. We celebrated Ryan's 7th birthday. It was so much fun, we will do it all over again next month when Jake turns 6.

School Project

To pick an influential figure from history, research the person, dress as he/she would look in a wax museum and report to the class who, what, when, where and why. This is Shelby as Annie Sullivan. She did a great job. Proud Granny here.

Along with easter eggs and baskets of candy, The Easter Bunny also brought along a new trampoline. A perfect way to burn off the sugar high. Hippity Hoppity!! Fun was had by all.

New Puppy

Mandy, Jamie, Shelby, Ryan, Jake, and now...

Garon (means "Guardian" in German); third from left. He joins "Socks" (the kitty), "Jaybird" (the parakeet) and "Rumples" (the hamster).

Oh, I forgot "Nemo" (the goldfish). Good times.

The Brave One

This Mom is on her way to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo with 4 pre-teenage girls (tweens, as they're called these days) to see The Jonas Brothers perform live in concert. To you who are about to be deaf, I salute you!

It's so very hard for Shelby to believe that once upon a time, a long time ago, her grandmother was a "Beatlemaniac." And despite the fact that I've dispatched many a Beatles song and several video clips of past performances, she laughs at my attempts to persuade her that the Beatles were the best that ever were. That's okay, I'll wait a few more years and try again. She'll come around.

Gone Fishin'

The weather has finally warmed into the 70s. We are dusting off the rod and reels and headed for the water.

Fish tales to come.

Farewell Aunt Gertie

No more pain,
No more tears,
No more counting off the years.

Rest in the peace,
That has long-last come,
I know that you are finally home.

PS: Give Mom a big kiss for me.

Wish I were here.

It's cold and raining. Okay, it's February. But I wish I were here.

Bright sunshine, warm breezes, white sandy beaches and an ice-cold beer. Good times, right Kath?

Sakes Alive.
Look who's 65!!

Happy Birthday Paddy.

Memories of Ike

When I got home tonight, there was a flyer taped to my front door titled "2009 Hurricane Preparedness." Oh, goodness - do we really want to think about that now? Our 2008 season was quite eventful. First came Eduard (sister Kathy evacuated from Beaumont to Houston, only to turn around and go back home the same day). Then came Ike. The cause of much disruption. Hoping for a quiet 2009 season.

Jake (5), Ryan (6) and Shelby (12) having fun during a rare December snowfall in The Woodlands, Texas. One for the memory books!

It's time to learn this blogging thing.

More to come.

Martypants